Sprinkler

ABSTRACT

A sprinkling device of continuously rotating, non-oscillating motion comprises a hollow outside cylinder with a hollow inside cylinder therein. The outside cylinder has an arcuate opening while the inside cylinder has a pluralilty of arcuately spaced rows of relatively small peripherally disposed openings. The inside cylinder rotates continuously and the arrangement is such that when one row of the relatively small openings is rotated out of register with the relatively large opening, the next row of relatively small openings comes into register with the larger opening.

1 May 6,1975

United States Patent [191 Mimeur 3,107,056 10/1963 239/206 Robert Mimeur, Sal'lanches France Carpano & Pons S.A.

June 19, 1972 SPRINKLER [75] Inventor:

Assignee:

Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King [22] Filed:

Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Burns; Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams 21 Appl. No; 264,345

[57] ABSTRACT A sprinkling device of continuously rotating, nonoscillating motion comprises a hollow outside cylinder [52] US. 239/240; 239/D1G. 1 1

Bosh 3/04 with a hollow inside cylinder therein. The outside cyl 239/242, 255, 206, 240,

[51] Int. inder has an arcuate opening while the inside cylinder has a pluralilty of arcuately spaced rows of relativel small peripherally disposed openings. The inside c [58] Field of Search ylinder rotates continuously and the arrangement is such [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS that when one row of the relatively small openings is rotated out of register with the relatively large open- 239/242 ing, the next row of relatively small openings comes 239/242 into register with the larger opening. 239/242 239/242 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures nnn Bhd m SWG 2,509,762 5/1950 Dammeyer.......................... 2,621,967 12/1952 2,673,122 3/1954 2,808,292 10/1957 SHEET 10F 2 fig-J SPRINKLER Device for the projection of a liquid under pressure.

The present invention concerns the field of sprinkling and particularly irrigation devices, whether they are at fixed locations or mobile, used for the aspersion with water or with any other liquid product, for such purposes as the upkeep of agriculture, pares and gardens, stadiums, golf courses, etc.

These devices must distribute the liquid in uniform manner upon a surface. This requirement meets with difficulties, except in very simple devices emitting a jet of water which sprays a circular area of which it is the center. When it is desirable to water a noncircular surface, such as for instance a rectangular area, the socalled oscillating devices are used. In particular, a rotating movement, created by an appropriately geared-down motor, is changedby a system of rods and cranks into an oscillating movement applied to a tubular arm through which the liquid runs, and which has openings from which jets emerge under pressure. These devices have a limited life span, especially because of the joints which are constantly in friction. Furthermore, they are fragile and their finish necessarily is subject to dangers. But their most serious short-coming lies in their conception itself. The required transformation of a circular, continued motion into an alternating motion, generally performed by means of a rod-crank assembly, imparts a variable angular speed to the oscillating arm, characterized in particular by a period of immobilization at the end of each alternating movement. There necessarily results a certain inequality in the distribution of the liquid on the irrigated areas.

The device which is the subject of this invention remedies the above mentioned inconveniences. In this device, the liquid jets under pressure do not move in an alternate motion, but in a circular movement that is continuous and uninterrupted, by means of a row of jets finishing the spraying of one end of the area to be irrigated, while another row of jets begins to spray the opposite end of said area. Between too successive aspersions of the same point, a constant time period elapses, so that the liquid is allowed the time to impregnate the irrigated surface before the next aspersion.

The device of this invention essentially consists of two coaxial cylinders, the outside cylinder being fixed, and having at least one opening of considerable, arcuate extent. The inner cylinder is mobile, in continuous rotation, and has with at least one row of smaller openings through which the liquid under pressure is to pass. The inner cylinder is put into motion by means ofa hydraulic turbine by the intermediary of at least one reducing gear, and its openings allow the liquid to squirt out under pressure when they are uncovered by the openings of the outside cylinder, thus creating jets at regular time intervals which move always in the same direction and at the same speed, thereby spraying all points of the surface with the same quantity of liquid and at the same time.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the drawing, which shows a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the device in a sectional view taken along line I I of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows the same device in a generally sectional view taken along line IIII of FIG. 1.

The device is made of two hollow coaxial cylinders l and 2, the outer cylinder 1 being in a fixed position and the inner cylinder 2 being in continuous rotational movement. Cylinder l is closed at both its ends 3 and 4, of which one, for instance 3, could be part of the cylinder body and the other 4 be attached to the walls of the cylinder by any known means. In one of the ends or lateral sides 4 an opening 5 for the admission of the liquid is made, said opening ending on the outside by a connection element of a known type to an inlet pipe. The cylindrical wall of the outer cylinder 1 is perforated by a generally rectangular opening 6 arcuately extending over a wide angle, for example a right angle A, well visible in FIG. 1. The opening 6, as shown in FIG. 2, extends from adjacent one end 3 to adjacent the other end 4 of the cylinder 1.

The hollow inside cylinder 2 has at an open end at right in FIG. 2 and has an internal, circular gear 7 at the opposite end wall. Cylinder 2 is adjusted to be able to rotate freely inside cylinder 1. The cylindrical wall of this inner cylinder is perforated by for instance, four rows of openings 8 9 l0 ll, arcuately spaced apart, each row extending parallel to the axis of the cylinder and the openings of each row having axes arranged in fan-shape as shown in FIG. 2.

The selection of the opening angle A of the outer cylinder l is not haphazard. It must be slightly wider, by a few degrees, for example, than the arcuate distance between every two consecutive rows of openings 8-9-1041 of the inside cylinder 2. This construction has the important result that the flow of liquid is not interrupted between the end of the jets spurting from one row of openings, and the beginning of the spurting from the following row of openings.

On the inside of the two cylinders, the drive includes a paddle wheel 12 which is a turbine driven by the jet of liquid penetrating through the opening 5. This whell 12 in integral with a rod 13 one part of which 14 is cut in the shape of an endless screw. The ends of the rod are in the form of two pins 15 and 16 able to rotate freely inside pads or bearings in a support 17 attached to the wall 4 of the fixed outside cylinder 1.

The endless screw 14 engages a gear 18 integral with a pinion 19. The unit 18 l9 freely rotates between the two walls of the outside cylinder 1. Pinion 19 engages the inside gear 7 on the inside cylinder 2, as can be seen on FIG. 1.

The plane to be irrigated is partly shown at 20 in FIG. 1. The operation of the device is as follows: the liquid, under pressure, arrives through opening 5, fills the free space inside both cylinders, and tends to spurt to the outside through the rows of openings such as 8 in the cylinder 2, for as long as the spurting is not stopped. It is in this manner that, in FIG. 1, the liquid cannot spurt otherwise than through the rows of openings 8, since rows 9, l0 and 11 are shut, while row 8 is in front of the opening 6 of the outside cylinder 1.

Simultaneously, the entering liquid causes the turbine 8 to rotate, which in turn causes the inside cylinder 2 to rotate by means of the gears 14, 18, 19 and 7. The row of openings 8 will allow the liquid to spurt through openings 6 until the row is covered by the wall of cylinder 1. But at that moment, another row of openings, 9 for example if cylinder 2 rotates in the direction of the arrow F, is uncovered by the opening 6 of cylinder 1, and in turn allows the liquid to spurt out. It can be seen then, in the case represented in illustration 1, that the liquid comes out in a jet and sweeps a surface within the angle A, always in the direction of the arrow F, in such manner that always one equal interval of time elapses between two consecutive aspersions of one and the same point, so that all of the liquid has the same time to soak in, properly, an important advantage for terrains with slow drainage.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the fan-like angle of the various openings of row 8, this angle determining the direction of the jets. Naturally, any other angles are also within the framework of this invention.

It is also possible to make an irrigation device in accordance with the invention, in which the continuous rotational movement of the cylinder 2 is not obtained by means of a turbine, but by any other driving element, for instance by means of an electrical or pneumatic motor, whereby said motor could be situated inside or outside the cylinders.

Another variant under the invention consists in situating the device in relation to a plane that is different to plane represented in FIG. 1. Circular areas, or sectors of circular surfaces could thus be irrigated.

Many other implementations, under the invention, can also be imagined by varying the number of opening rows of the inside cylinder 2, and/or by varying the opening angle A of the outside cylinder 1, and/or by making several openings in said cylinder 1. In this manner it is possible to infinitely vary the configuration and the rythm of the jets of liquid. The device of the invention finds its utilization in all cases where it is wished to water, irrigate, impregnate with a liquid and with regularity, all kinds of area shapes, by means of simple, fool-proof and inexpensive equipment, the appearance of the consecutive jets of liquid being particularily attractive, from an esthetic point of view.

I claim:

1. A sprinkling device comprising; a hollow outside cylinder; a hollow inside cylinder coaxially mounted therein and fitted into it so that it can freely revolve against it; housing means associated with said cylinders for providing an enclosure and defining an entrance for liquid into the enclosure; means for continued rotating of the inside cylinder in the outside cylinder; the inside cylinder being perforated by a plurality of arcuately spaced rows each comprising a plurality of relatively small openings; and the outside cylinder having at least one relatively large arcuate opening enabling the liquid to pass through the openings of successive rows of the inside cylinder and to spurt out through the opening of the outside cylinder.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said means for continous rotating of the inside cylinder comprises a turbine mounted in the inside cylinder; means for continuously rotating the turbine by liquid entering through said entrance; and means for converting the continous rotation of the turbine into the continous rotating of the inside cylinder.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said rotation converting means includes means for reducing the speed of the turbine.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the speed reducing means includes an internal gear coaxially on an end of the inside cylinder, and a gear directly driven by the turbine and driving said internal gear. 

1. A sprinkling device comprising; a hollow outside cylinder; a hollow inside cylinder coaxially mounted therein and fitted into it so that it can freely revolve against it; housing means associated with said cylinders for providing an enclosure and defining an entrance for liquid into the enclosure; means for continued rotating of the inside cylinder in the outside cylinder; the inside cylinder being perforated by a plurality of arcuately spaced rows each comprising a plurality of relatively small openings; and the outside cylinder having at least one relatively large arcuate opening enabling the liquid to pass through the openings of successive rows of the inside cylinder and to spurt out through the opening of the outside cylinder.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said means for continous rotating of the inside cylinder comprises a turbine mounted in the inside cylinder; means for continuously rotating the turbine by liquid entering through said entrance; and means for converting the continous rotation of the turbine into the continous rotating of the inside cylinder.
 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said rotation converting means includes means for reducing the speed of the turbine.
 4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the speed reducing means includes an internal gear coaxially on an end of the inside cylinder, and a gear directly driven by the turbine and driving said internal gear. 